[Disclaimer] I still don't own Twilight. It sucks cause I could really use the money...

[A/N] It's been 84 years...according to my wife and a movie that shall not be named.

Here is finally an update for you, my dear Readers.

Wife, I love you so much.

Chapter 4

I stared at the card like a child who had been given Santa Claus's phone number.

She was planning on divorcing Edward? How wonderful!

Then I thought of little Iris and about how miserable my parents divorce had made me feel.

It was wrong to be this happy about someone else's misery.

Xxxx

I managed to bring up the courage to dial Bellas number four times but always hung up before the first ring.

It took me half a glass of red wine to attempt a fifth call.

In my head, I had the perfect plan. As Iris teacher, it was only polite to call and ask if she was feeling better.

So, I was going to do that. It was going to be easy, right?

"Swan."

"Oh hi, Bella. This is Alice. I am just calling to ask if Iris is doing better."

There was some rumbling and voices in the background. Someone laughed.

A door was closed with a banging noise.

"Sorry. They are impossibly loud. It is nice you called to check in about Iris."

"It's not a big deal. I care about all my students."

Smart move, Alice, I thought, almost proud of myself.

"You're a very good teacher. Like half of the sentences that come out of Iris mouth start with, Miss Brandon says."

"Really?"

"Yes! She adores you."

I adore you, Bella. But if I told her how I felt, it was going to make her think I was crazy.

"She's a loveable child."

With whose mother I am hopelessly in love with.

Bella coughed.

"I never got to apologize to you."

"Apologize?"

"Jeez, Alice, you threw up when I asked you out. I didn't mean to make you uncomfy."

"I was drunk."

"I know, but still. I saw your face when I asked you. You looked horrified."

She is too observant.

"To be honest, I was pretty surprised."

She gulped on something. I wondered if it was wine.

There was an awkward minute of silence in the line.

When she spoke again, her voice cracked.

"Am I not your type? Or is it because of Iris?"

"It has nothing to do with her!"

"So, it's me? Do you prefer butch women? I'm not very girly."

She sounded stressed out.

"You are very attractive."

Bella made a giggling sound.

"Thank you for saying that. Look, how about we start over again? I am meeting my lawyer in the morning but later I be at the zoo with Iris. Would you like to join us?"

Xxxx

I had convinced myself that it didn't count as a date when the child would be present.

Still, I had straightened my hair and washed it again afterwards.

I had added an extra layer of mascara to my lashes.

I changed my outfit three times until I finally was satisfied.

"You look very lovely, Alice." Bella greeted me. She pulled me into an unexpected hug when I met her in front of the entrance.

I wanted to crawl under her skin. She smelled good enough to eat.

"Doesn't she look pretty, Iris?'

"Pretty!"

Iris clapped her hands together.

"Miss Brandon is the prettiest teacher at my school."

I laughed.

"Do we want to go inside and see some animals?"

Iris turned her attention very quickly to a herd of giraffes.

That way, Bella and I had all the time in the world to talk.

She was expecting a visit from her Dad tomorrow. I learned that he was a retired police officer and had recently gotten engaged again.

"Edward is cleaning the house like a germophob. Like Charlie would even notice. His house is a mess. I hope Sue has a good influence on him."

My afternoon had been going fantastic until she had mentioned Edward.

What was going on here? Where they trying to hold up the appearance of an intact family?

"Charlie can't stand Edward."

I like this Charlie guy!

"Mommy! Look at the cute black doggie!"

She rushed over and started petting the dog's head.

"He's so cute!"

"It's a she." The woman who was holding the dog on a leash, responded.

"See her belly? She will be having puppies soon."

"Really? Can I have one?"

Iris gave her mother a puppy face look. She pouted her lips and fluttered her tiny eye lashes.

"Please Mommy!"

"Iris, you know we can't have pets."

The little girl sighed deeply. She caressed the dog's fur for a last time and mumbled a tear-choked goodbye.

"Pets are actually good for kids." I told Bella. "They teach them responsibility."

I took a sip from my water bottle. My throat felt dry.

"I know, but we really can't have a dog. It is too much work."

"It sucks that Edward is allergic."

Bella gave me a confused look. She rolled her eyes.

I felt a tingling sensation running down my spine when she leaned closer to whisper to me.

Her fingers brushed the outside of my ear. I could hear blood rushing through my head.

"He's not allergic, just scared of everything with more than two legs."

I laughed.

But as they say, speak of the devil and he shall appear.

"Daddy!"

Iris jumped into his arms. "I already saw the giraffes but I go again with you, if you want."

Next to Edward, dressed in the same wine-red hoodie was a blond curled guy.

He looked familiar. I just couldn't place him.

"Jasper! What on earth are you two doing here? I told you -"

Edward fisted his hair. He cleared his throat.

Jasper smirked.

"Yeah, you didn't want us to run into your date."

"It is not a date." Edward said. He laughed.

I didn't understand what there was to laugh about now.

"I could kill you both right now! Why can I never get any privacy?"

Iris had turned her attention away from Edward. Jasper had lifted her up and was giving her fist bumps.

"Dad, are you still allergic to dogs?"

"I am afraid, that's not going to change."

Jasper kissed Iris's head and put her down on the grass.

"You can get a pet fish. I buy you one."

Confused wasn't even scraping the surface of what I felt. Why was Iris calling Jasper dad?

"See, Bella, see how irritated she looks? That's why, Jasper and I talked and decided-"

"That we thought, it would be best, if Alice would meet our whole family before things get serious between you."